Best Career Changes to Start at 40

Written by Calvin Bowers
Last updated August 11, 2020

Whether you have decided your career is no longer suitable or you are looking to come back to work after being out for a while, like many of us, you may not know what the perfect fit is for you.

If you are concerned about making the jump to a new career at 40, you can read our guide for why you should choose a new career. In reality, it is far from being too late, with over 25 years left to reach the heights and goals you dream about in your career. Furthermore, if you are feeling unfulfilled or unappreciated in your current career, it is a bigger risk to stay where you are.

Here is a list of a few potential careers which might be more suited to you:

Complementary Therapies

Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture or massage therapy, are an incredibly popular choice for a career change. It is seen as an attractive career due to the benefits the nature of the job brings, such as helping people and often working in a calm environment. If you have other responsibilities or just want flexibility in your work-life, this field is often chosen for the ease at which you can become self-employed and choose your own hours. Although the pay can be relatively low for those who first switch, there is scope to take on numerous different skills and to employ others as you create a larger network of clients.

Information Technology

Information Technology includes a wide range of potential careers, including becoming a web developer, SEO specialist, data analyst or much more. This field is the number one pick for those looking for a career switch due to how rapidly it is expanding. There are a massive number of high paid jobs, with prospects for growth for decades to come.

Going into this field may require some training, but due to the high demand for experienced staff many employers will cover the costs. Even better, there are numerous different adult apprenticeships available in this field which would mean a continued income during your transition from your old career.

Business Management

At age 40, one of your biggest assets is having years of working experience. Business management is a broad field of expertise that is necessary in every industry. If you have experience in management or any sort of corporate role, this could be the right career for you, as this would be a seamless transition to a field with endless prospects. Some of the jobs within business management include: consultant, business developer, or a project manager.

Hair and Beauty

By the age of 40, most people finally understand what they want out of their life and career. If you are in the fortunate position to be able to pursue your passion, a common career switch is into the field of Hair and Beauty. This career not only has the benefits that come with the job, such as working with colleagues who are similarly passionate and helping people to feel good about themselves, but the high demand makes it easy to become stable in self-employment or to even employ others over time. There are levels of training that you have to undergo, but fortunately this field has apprenticeships for almost every role, so you can make the switch today.

Veterinary Nurse, Technician or Technologist

For those who want to work in a technically challenging career whilst pursuing a passion for animals, there are a wide range of roles that do not require half a decade of off-the-job training within the veterinary field. Getting into this line of work is not easy and will take some serious dedication, but the rewards can be tremendous. Our advice if you are interested in making a career switch into the veterinary field is to find help in your area, so that you can find out more information from experienced professionals.

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Last Updated: Monday June 6 2022
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